• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Chief leads well with a plain halter and lead rope. He was a little hard to catch at first, but now that he’s learned about cookies, he’s the first one at the gate.  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Chief is well-behaved and stands quietly for grooming and tacking. He's a sensitive guy who wants to do the right thing so best to be slow with your movements to give him time to know what you're up to but he is game once he knows! 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Chief wears steel front shoes. Stands well for the farrier. He is currently turned out with another gelding and is the boss of the two.  
• Riding - Level 1 - Chief likes to take in his surroundings but is willing under saddle and is a friendly quiet ride. He would love someone who is confident to explore new places.  
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Chief is a big guy who wants to be in your pocket once you’ve earned his trust.  
• Physical Capability - Level 1 - We feel that he will be suitable for an all around pleasure career! Looking for an adopter with previous experience and knowledgeable ground work skills.  

 click for horse level information 

Interested in this horse? Approved adopters can reach out to this horse's trainer via the "Email Us About This Horse" button above for further information. Not yet approved? Learn about the process and start your questionnaire at newvocations.org/adopt! Approved applications are valid for two years.

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbred or Standardbred from a private seller. In today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!

Our fees range from $0 (waived) to $3,500. Fees typically correspond with a horse’s anticipated physical capabilities. So, horses that are best suited for non-riding careers (our Pasture Potatoes) have waived fees, while the fees for horses assessed to be suitable for high-impact careers will be up to $3,500.

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for a horse can be high. New Vocations hope that by helping adopters save money upfront, you’ll have more funds available to cover the costs of properly caring for and training a retired racehorse.

When you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re helping two horses; your new family member and the one who takes their place in our program. Our facilities are nearly always at max capacity, which means we can’t take in a new horse until one is adopted. Keeping our adoption fees low helps us find appropriate homes for horses quickly, enabling us to help even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns!

Another perk of adopting from us: We do all we can to give you the most value for your adoption fee. Most adoptable horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days, during which they've rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, been evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and have been in regular training with a professional. On average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-rays and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse are also available to interested and approved adopters.